Roller and ball bearing axle structure



July 31, 1923. 1,463,196

F. ,1. CQCHRAN ROLLER AND BALL BEARING AXLE STRUCTURE Filed Aug, 30. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Flaw/"trail,

July 31,1923.

'F. J. COCHRAN ROLLER AND BALL BEARING AXLE STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 30. 1922 2 SheotsSheet 2' Flam-mm,

July 3i, lg lii srar insane rarest oasis.

FRED JQCOCHRA or MOUNT VERNON, ILLINoIs.

ROLLER AND BALL BEARING AXLE STRUCTURE.

Application filed August 30, 1922. Serial No. 585,303;

T 0 (IZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED J. CocHRAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Vernon,- in the county of Jefferson and State of Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Roller and Ball Bearing Axle Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to roller. and ball bearing 'axle structures and it consists in] the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

A primary object of the invention, 1s to provide a structure of the character stated which is of a simple and durable nature-and" which is especially adapted to effectually Withstand the various strains and wear to which it is subjected when used upon railway car axles, In theevent that the structure as hereinafter described is used upon rolling stockequippedwith means for propelling by rotating the axle directly from the source of power the roller and ball hearing structures at the opposite ends of theaxle are connected together by a differential transmission mechanism of usual pattern.

A" furtherobject of the inventionis to provide in a structure of the character stated two sets of anti-frictionbearing members, one set bein of the ball type and the other set bein o the roller type, therebeing a mutua ity of cooperation between these two sets of anti-friction bearing members in that'the roller bearirig'membersare arranged to' -su'stain the weight of the load and the ball bearing anti 'fr'iction members are arranged to resist the wear and friction F incident to thrust strain when the rolling stock is motion and passing around curves. I Therefore, lmininium power is required forymoving' the'rollin'g stock overthe rails and-friction is practically eliminated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in such-a structural arrangement a mutual co-action between the sleeve and the axle shaft whereby all twisting or jamming strain is distributed between the sleeve and the axle shaft and thereby relieving the bearing of .such'strain.

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide in a structure of the character stated sufficient space between the axle sleeve and the axle shaft to retain a volume of lubricant sufficient to efficiently lubricate both sets of bearing members for an indelinite period of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide in alstructure of the character stated a capespecia-lly designed 'to serve as aball race, a dust guard 'for .both sets of 1 anti-friction members and means for closmg the end of the sleeve and means for sustaining the weightof the load upon' the complete axle structure.

A still further object of the invention is toprovide a ball and roller bearing axle of journal for the wheelsin which there is a roller or ball bearing engagement between all contacting points thus reducingthe friction to a minimum and which will obviate all danger of the wheels leaving the rails on account of lateral displacement,- and' to provide a ball and roller bearing axle which will allow thewheels' to turn independentlyof each other. 1

With. the fo'regoingiand other objects in 'view aswill appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists inthe novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

. In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a 'side'elevation ofzthe roller and ball bearing axle structure with parts thereof shownin section.-

Figure 21is an end elevation. of'the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the same cut on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the same'c'uton the line 4-4 of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of the roller and ball bearing axle structure with parts broken away and parts plates 9 are mounted u said The interior surface sleeve tion of 1e axle 1 and bears F 2 is spaced from the surface of r. is and end of the body 11 of the c this is utilized for holdin c lubri-- l"! is provided at its outer po cmt which is applied to the roller id ball eral series slots- 18 and bearing features as will be herein-liter dedifferent series vary in length. A A scribed. passes transversely through the axle 1 The sleeve 2 is prdvided at a point midway between its ends with an orifice 3 through wh1ch the said lubricant may be introduced into the space between the inner surface of the sleeve and the axle. The orifice 3 is normallyclosed by a plug in a. usual manner.

The sleeve 2, is provided at its end portions with enlargements 5 upon the exterior surfaces of which car wheels 6 are mounted. Linings 7 are applied to the inner surfaces of the enlargementso and the outer ends/of the said linings project beyond the outer end edges of the enlargements 5 as best shownin Figure 1 of the drawings. Ball race rings 8 are applied to the outer ends of the enlargements 5 and receive the outer end portion out the linings 7. Cylindrical wear. on the axle l and are held in the enlarge portions 5 of the sleeve 2., Roller bearing members 10 are interposed between the linings 7 and the wear plates 9 and said bearing members are shorter than the wear plates 9 and may have slight longitudinal movement between the said platesand the linings.

Each roller hearing as hereinbefore de scribed is closed by a cap and as the structures of the caps are alike a description of one cap will suffice. Each cap comprises a cylindrical body portion 11 which fits snugly upon the outer end portion of the axle 1 and the inner end of the body portion .11 enters the lining 7 and terminates adjacent the end'ot the wear plate .9 and the outer ends of the rollers 10. Therefore the cap serves to. assist in holding the rollers described. Castings (not 5 and the wear platein properflposition in the enlargement 5 of the sleeve. The body 1 of the cap is provided at a point between its ends with a collar portion 12 having at its outer edge an annular flange 13 the inner surface of which is spaced from-the exterior surface of the body 11 thereby forming a pocket. The outer end portion of the enlargement 5 is received in the space between the flange 13 and the body and a dust guard ring 14 is carried at the edge of the flange and bears against the enlargement 5 and closes the space between the flange and mounted at the bottom of: the pocket provided between the tlange 13 and the body 11 and bearing balls 16 are interposed between the race ring 15 and the rin- 8 hereinbetore own) may be made to rest upon the body 11 to fit any truck frame desired. I

Aband'l? is mounted upon the end porits end portions the weight of the I carry the bearing roller around with t the enlargement and prevents the entrance of re held in twcot the 18 and thus means are provided for hol the cap in position'upon the As cap or the adjacent parts wear the may be adjusted along the axle 1 unti parts are brought to proper relation respect to each other and then the pi; removed and the band 17 is turned to l shorter slots 18 intoregister with the opening in the axle 1 and then the pin is serted into the said opening through the shorter slot and the parts are held a... adjusted positions.

In operation the roller bearings susu load and the ball be ingstalre up the thrust strain when the c is swayed or moving around a curve in track. Thus these strains and forces distributed between the axle and the leave and the structure will hold together event that either the axle or the sleeve be broken while in transit. Further vantages of the structural arrangement enumerated as follows. The wheels rigidly mounted upon the sleeve they rotate independently of the axle prop-er The weightoi the load is sustained by the bearing rollers at the lower side of the az-zle and consequently the bearing rollers at topside of the axle are free and the s rollers may readily move over the can of the axle when the parts are in moti thereby eliminating wear and friction; ing the lateral or swaying movement of car or truck frame sufficient play is vided between the bearing balls and the bail races and the ends of the rollers and the adjacent parts to permit the balls and roll- L ers to move without friction or binding. W hen the parts orthe axle structure assembled there in no actual or frictional contact between them except where the dust guard tits snugly over the end of the sleeve. The entire axle structure may belubricaten with cup grease or hard oil which is injected into the space between the axle and the sleeve and plugged up so that the only way for the grease to escapeis by working out the ends of the axle and it must pass through the spacing between the rollers around the end of the sleeve and thence through the ball bearing and out. under s dust guard ring which also serves as a p ing for retaining the grease. X In a car st u ture having the'roller and ball bearing cine as described the axle will not run hot. T car may be moved by the application o much less power or pulling force thany oulc resales.

be required otherwise, and the structure may be used for an indefinite period of time .sleeve sections may turn or rotate. independently of each other. Thus one wheel may rotate. faster than the other when the car and axle are moving around a curve and without friction, binding or slipping.

In the form of the arrangement as shown in Figure 6 of the drawing the sleeve is made up of sections which are provided at their inner ends with 0 and under lapping flanges 23 which loosely engage each other and without the use or assistance of a coupling member, ring or collar.

In this arrangement the adjacent sleeve sections may run or rotate independently of each other and the overland under lapping flanges at the ends of the sleeve sections prevent the escape of the lubricant between the inner ends of the sleeve.

In all formsof the invention a double axle structure is provided, that is to say a sleeve with an axle properly located therein. The wheels are mounted upon the sleeve and are entirely free to rotate around the axle proper. In the enlargements at each end of the sleeve any type of bearing desired .may be used. The Wheels being mounted upon the sleeve they revolve freely around the axle proper. The sleeve extends through the wheels and forms an abutment against the ball bearings held in the caps on the ends of the axle proper. The caps project over the endsof the sleeve far enough to permit a suitable dust guard in the ends of the caps and around the sleeve. Said dust guard acts as packing to retain grease which is held in the sleeve between the wheels and inside of the sleeve in the space between the sleeve and the axle.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is: l I 1. A roller and ball bearing axle structure comprising an axial pro er, a sleeve mounted thereon and. provide :with an enlarged end portion, a lining member fitting in the enlarged portion of the sleeve and having an end portion disposed beyond theend of the sleeve, a wear plate mounted upon the axle, bearing rollers interposed between the wear plate and the lining and being shorter in length than the length of the wear plate, a cap mounted upon the axle and having a body portion which enters the enlargement of the s 'a the lining and'which terminates adjacent the edge of the wear plate, said cap having a flange and a pocket interposed between the flange and the body, a dust ring carried upon the flange and bearing a ainst the end of the enlarges ment of the s eeve, a race ring located inv the pocket of the" cap and bearing balls interposed between the race rings.

2. A roller and ball bearing axle structure comprising an axle proper, a sleeve mounted thereon and composed of sections connected together at their inner ends for turning movement independently of each other-and provided at their inner ends with diametrically enlarged portions, a lining member fitting in the enlarged portion and having an end portion disposed beyond the end of the sleeve, a wearplate mounted upon the axle,

bearing rollers interposed between the wear plate and the lining and being shorter in length than the length of the wear plate, a cap mounted upon the axle and having a body portion which enters the enlargement of the sleeve and lining'and which terminates adjacent the edge of the wear plate, said cap having a flange and a pocket interposed between the flange and the body, a dust ring carried upon the flange and hearing against the enlargement of the sleeve, a race ring surrounding the projectingend portion of the lining and bearing against the end of the enlargement of the sleeve, a race ring located in the pocket of the cap and bearing balls interposed between the race rings.

3. A roller and ball bearing axle structure.

comprising an axle proper, a sleeve mounted thereon and composed of sections having at their inner ends over and under lapping flanges fitting snugly against" each other, each sleeve section being provided at its outer end with a diametrically enlarged portion, alining member fittin in the enlarged portion of the sleeve an havin an 'end' portion disposed beyond the end o the sleeve, a wear plate mounted upon the axle,

bearing rollers interposed between the wear plate and the lining and being shorter than the length of the wear plate, a ,cap mounted upon t e axle and having a body-portion which enters the enlargement of the sleeve and the lining and which terminates adjacent the edge of the wear-plate, said cap having a flange and a pocket interposed between the flange and the body, a dust ring carried upon the flange and bearingagainst the enlargement of the sleeve, a race ring surrounding the projecting end portion of the lining and bearing against the end of the enlargement of the sleeve, a race ring located in the pocket of the cap and bearing balls interposed between the race rings.

4. In a roller and ball bearing axle structure, an axle proper, a sleeve mounted thereon, hearing rollers interposed between the bearing rollers, hearing balls-interposed between the cap and the sleeve, a band mounted upon the axle and provided at its edge with several sets of slots which vary in length, the inner face of the band hearing against the end of the camp and a pin passing through the axle and having its end por o'ion received in oppositely disposed slots of the band.

In testimony whereof,

ll SLifiX my signature.

FRED J. ooonnm. 

